Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

Eyes Open, Adventures Begin! It's hard to believe our  "Traveler's Litter"  is already two weeks old! The past week has been full of exciting milestones—and, as we've quickly discovered, a few of these little adventurers are already living up to their soon to be registered names. Mr. Rocky Road  (brown collar) and  Mr. Pistachio  (green collar) have decided that life inside the whelping box simply isn't adventurous enough! Taking advantage of the moments when Tulip was resting against the entrance, both boys managed to climb over Mom in search of what lay beyond their tiny world. Thankfully, their loud protests quickly alerted us, and we came running to rescue our little explorers and reunite them with their siblings. It seems their adventurous spirits are already beginning to shine! This week also marked one of the biggest developmental milestones, the puppies have officially opened their eyes! Although their vision is still somewhat blurry, they're begin...

  One Week Old Already! It's hard to believe an entire week has already flown by! Tulip and her seven little puppies are all doing wonderfully, and each day brings exciting new milestones. We've now set up our 24/7 puppy camera, allowing all of our puppy families to follow their journey and watch these little ones grow from the comfort of home. It's amazing how much changes in just a few days! Tulip continues to be an exceptional mother. She spends most of her day devoted to her puppies—feeding, cleaning, and cuddling them—but she's also beginning to enjoy a little well-deserved "mom time" outside the whelping box. As the puppies become more content between feedings, Tulip is taking short breaks to stretch her legs, enjoy a meal, and recharge before heading back to her little family. To support milk production, Tulip's food intake has increased dramatically. She is now eating approximately 60 ounces of fresh food each day, divided into four meals. Her body...

  They're Here! What a day it was! Tulip didn't skip a beat yesterday. She enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner as if it were any other day... and then, at 6:30 p.m., she calmly welcomed her first puppy into the world. Making a grand entrance was  Mr. Rocky Road  (brown collar). Not long afterward,  Mr. Maple Walnut  (beige collar) arrived, and that's when things started to get a little more exciting! Our third arrival,  Mr. Pistachio  (green collar), decided the backyard lawn was the perfect place to make his debut while Tulip and I were out for an evening walk. Thankfully, I always carry a towel with me when we're close to whelping. I scooped up our newest little traveler, and Tulip and I made a speedy dash back to the house. The surprises didn't stop there!  Miss Vanilla  (white collar) made her entrance on the bedroom carpet while I was letting Tulip outside for a quick bathroom break. Shortly afterward,  Mr. Moose Tracks  (blac...

  Tulip's x-ray - guess how many puppies! The Countdown is On! By Day 60 of pregnancy, Tulip's puppies are considered fully developed. Their skeletons and internal organs are complete, and they are spending these final days in the womb doing what they do best—gaining weight, building strength, and maturing their digestive systems in preparation for life outside the womb. A normal canine gestation lasts approximately 63 days, although healthy puppies can safely arrive anywhere from 58 to 68 days. At this stage, the puppies are actively preparing for birth, and so is Tulip. We've set up the whelping box in our bedroom so she'll have a quiet, comfortable place to deliver her puppies. She checks it out from time to time but doesn't seem overly interested just yet. Instead, she's convinced that the perfect spot is beneath one of our cedar trees in the backyard. Despite my best efforts to discourage the digging, she's determined to create her own little den for he...

  We're in the Home Stretch! Tulip has reached Day 52 of her pregnancy and, despite her growing figure, she hasn't slowed down one bit. That said, we are noticing some changes in her behaviour. She is spending more time seeking out quiet, peaceful corners away from the pack and has become much more affectionate. Belly rubs and cuddles are now in high demand, and she rarely misses an opportunity to be close by. The maternal instincts are definitely beginning to emerge. At this stage, the puppies are well developed and entering the final phase of growth before birth. All major organs have formed, their limbs and facial features are fully recognizable, fur is developing, and even their tiny nails are taking shape. It is truly remarkable how much development occurs in such a short period of time. As space becomes limited within the uterus, Tulip's abdomen is becoming increasingly crowded with puppies. Occasional fetal movement may now be visible from the outside, one of the...

Tulip and Storm Litter By Day 45 of a dog's gestation, the puppies are structurally complete, with their major organs, skeletons, and reproductive organs fully formed. At this exciting stage, the fetuses are actively mineralizing their bones and beginning to grow their first coats of fur. The puppies' skeletons are hardening and becoming more defined, meaning their skulls, spines, and pelvises are now clearly visible. Fine fur is beginning to cover their bodies, and they are rapidly gaining both size and weight. While most major organs are fully developed, essential systems such as the lungs continue maturing in preparation for life outside the womb. The fetuses are now starting to look much more like puppies. Tiny toes, nails, and whiskers have formed, and their skin pigmentation is developing. Eyelids formed around Day 32, toes became visible by Day 35, and nails appeared around Day 40. Over the past few days, the coat and skeleton have continued to develop and strengthen. At...

The Foetal Stage (Storm & Tulip) At 35 days of gestation, Tulip's puppies have reached an exciting milestone—the end of embryogenesis, the first phase of canine pregnancy. From this point forward, the developing puppies are no longer referred to as embryos but as foetuses. By Day 35, all of the major organ systems have formed and are continuing to mature. Tiny ears, eyelids, toes, and facial features are becoming more defined, and the puppies are beginning to take on a distinctly canine appearance. Although still very small, they are growing rapidly each day. The foetal stage is characterized by remarkable growth and development. In fact, beginning around Day 40, the puppies will experience their most dramatic period of growth, gaining approximately 75% of their birth weight during the final three weeks of pregnancy. As Tulip enters the second half of her pregnancy, her body is working hard to support the growing litter. Over the coming weeks, the puppies will continue to devel...

Seven Weeks Old and Full of Fun! This week has been all about  play , and these little ones have truly come into their own. Whether romping around indoors or bounding through the snow, they’ve spent their days chasing each other, wrestling, and engaging in very determined games of tug-of-war. The puppies are now enjoying between  6.5 and 8 ounces of food per meal —and not a single morsel is ever left behind! They have fully transitioned to solid food, and Momma Fiona has officially retired from nursing. She has done a  phenomenal  job raising her babies, and now it’s her turn to rest and enjoy some well-deserved R&R. Although the puppies still sleep quite a bit, they are awake more often and absolutely adore being picked up and cuddled. This is such a sweet, affectionate stage. The highlight of the week was their  veterinary health checkup . We were incredibly fortunate to have our vet come to our home—especially helpful during today’s severe winter storm. H...

Dutch and Fiona’s puppies are six weeks old today — gosh, how time flies! What an exceptional litter they are. Their weights and appearances are remarkably consistent, with the girls just slightly smaller. If you’ve been watching on the 24/7 camera, you’ve probably noticed how much more they’re playing and interacting every single day. This week’s big news:  Fiona has decided that  all  the toys belong to her! One evening, I watched her go into the toy box, carefully select a toy, and carry it over to her bed. By the end of the night, every single toy had been relocated. She never destroys them — she simply gathers them like treasures. It’s absolutely comical. Faith ventured over to investigate, and let’s just say Fiona was  not  impressed with the intrusion. A huge thank-you to everyone who attended our open house last weekend. The puppies soaked up all the cuddles, and it was truly lovely meeting everyone. I know you're all getting excited to bring your puppy ...